ISAF: CZECHS AGREE ON MANDATE, BUT CAUTIOUS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001222 SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE, PM/RSAT FOR GOROG, EUR/RPM FOR ANDERSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015 TAGS: MARR PREL AF EZ NATO UNSC SUBJECT: ISAF: CZECHS AGREE ON MANDATE, BUT CAUTIOUS ON OPERATIONS REF: STATE 146276 Classified By: Political-Military Officer Brian Greaney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1) PolCouns and Pol-Mil Off August 18 delivered reftel points to MFA Security Policy Department Director Veronika Kuchynova Smigolova. Noting the Czech Republic had always been a supporter of the eventual unification of ISAF and CFC-A, Smigolova agreed ISAF's UN mandate was sufficiently broad to allow for security operations and integration of the two forces. She gave her assurance that the Czech Republic did not see the UN mandate as a limiting factor in the revision of the operations plan. 2) Moving beyond the legal question of the mandate itself, Smigolova cautioned that the Czech republic would have concerns if ISAF's role were to be changed significantly. ISAF's role was centered in PRT activities. Force protection was its security focus, and "it would be better" to avoid a significant move towards anti-terror operations. 3) Comment: The GOCR does not/not believe the UN mandate is a barrier to permit integration or operations. However the Czechs are likely to be cautious in discussions, and will have to be convinced that ISAF can and should be involved in responses to all key security threats. End comment. MUNTER